Page 8 of Nodus Tollens
“Yeah.” He plopped his hat back onto his head, this time with the rim facing towards me. “Don’t need any more reasons for you to run from me.” Directing a playful smirk in my direction, I went still.
“I didn’t run from you.” I snapped, but I did it in a not-so bitchy tone so I wouldn’t come off like one.
“Okay.” He held up his palms. “You didn’t run from me.”
Agitated, I found my eyes taking in the size of his palms. My god, he could cover both ass cheeks with one hand. Rough, callused hands that meant he used them often…
Shit.
“Good.” I grunted while averting my eyes from his monster hands as a flush formed across my face.
“Look, why don’t we pretend earlier didn’t happen and this, right here was our first-time meeting.”
I peered at him in confusion.
“Why would we do that?”
“Because I’d rather be known as the sweet guy you met in a parking lot and not the guy you saw fighting with a fuckin’ vending machine.”
A small laugh fell past my mouth as I briefly dropped my stare.
“Alright, then you better make this worth remembering.”
Lifting my stare, I found his in a state of heat. A breathless, curious look that had my heart pounding like a jack rabbit.
“And if I wanted to kiss you, would that be worth remembering?”
I went rigid. Flames coated my skin as my heart skipped a beat. My throat went dry as thoughts of his mouth pressed against mine flooded my head. No way did he want to kiss me. Right? Even if he did, I couldn’t let him. Who kissed someone they had just met? Certainly not me.
“I… no. You can’t just… say that.” I scoffed and took a hesitant step back with my arms still wrapped securely around my middle.
“Why not?”
“Because… you just can’t. I don’t even know you.” I added while he watched me with intrigue. I thought he would have given up or at least changed the subject after I said no, but he appeared even more interested now.
“Get to know me.”
A voice in my head said, let him kiss you.
Let him kiss you into next week, Wren. But I couldn’t.
Part of me wanted to dive headfirst into the unknown and explore everything there was to know about the man in front of me. Perhaps I was naïve, or just too plain drunk on the idea, but it felt as though my soul demanded it.
Demanded more, but I couldn’t risk it. Especially for a man who so easily rendered me speechless within the first glance. I could only imagine what kind of damage a man like that could inflict on my life.
“I can’t.” I whispered under my breath as I felt as though my heart was slowly crumbling. “I’m sorry.” I went to escape, but I was quickly stopped with a hand clasping mine. My first thought was how warm and solid it felt around mine. Despite looking like he could crush anything he held, he grasped mine with gentleness.
“See…Fuck.” He swore while shaking his head. “ I told you I say shit without thinkin’.”
A sad smile formed across my face as I took in what appeared to be desperation. He didn’t want me to go.
“Can I at least get your number? Somethin’?”
Dammit.
“I can’t. I’m not… you don’t want to get to know me.” I offered an out for him, but his laugh caught me off guard.
“If you only knew just how fuckin’ bad I do…” He softly rubbed a finger along my wrist and I found myself lost in his touch. It was barely there, but I could feel it down into the tips of my toes.
